If you're keeping track, the storm that ravaged the northwest a week ago is running up some pretty hefty bills. As I noted the other day, Olympic's cleanup bill has reached $3 million and they're still adding to it.
At Mount Rainier, officials have estimated damage at $279,000, but with some serious road damage you know that figure's going to climb. North Cascades National Park also suffered fairly extensive damage, but I haven't seen any dollar estimates yet.
Over at Glacier National Park, however, the tally is quickly approaching $5 million.
Most of the damage, currently estimated to cost $4.7 million to repair, was done to the Going-to-the-Sun Road. Several sections of the highway that links West Glacier to St. Mary were washed away. The problem Glacier crews face is trying to repair those sections before winter's heavy snows fall. If they can't, there will be a real mess come spring.
Of course, crews haven't gotten a look at what might have happened in the backcountry.
Tomorrow morning Glacier Superintendent Mick Holm and federal highway officials will hold a public meeting at 11 a.m. in West Glacier to update all who are interested on the damage assessment...and the estimated cost of repairs.
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